1987 Jeep Wrangler Overview

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4.5 ⁄ 5 stars

Based on 15 reviews

Perfect High School Car by Steve

— Wow. Totally unexpected. That's what I thought when my cousin said that he was going to Switzerland with his family and asked whether or not I would look after his wife's 1987 Jeep. Of course, I sai...
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It Is A Beast That Will Run Forever, And Can Never Be Replaced by JL258

— I have the 1987 AMC 4.2 I6 Jeep, it has the unfortunate BA/10 Transmission, but it hasnt failed me yet at 132,000 miles, and it has the 231 transfer case, yes its 1987, and has the 231, I said that ri...
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1987 Jeep WranglerOverview

The 1987 Jeep Wrangler is an SUV with one of two engine options: a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder or a 4.2-liter 6-cylinder, either of which should provide plenty of power for whatever you need to do. Two transmission choices complete the power package, a 3-speed automatic or a 5-speed manual. Two doors and 4-wheel drive add to the effect of the SUV that has become one of the off-road vehicle standards.

The Jeep Wrangler has been around for over 20 years, a longstanding vehicle in the fickle automotive world. Time and time again, owners return to the Wrangler, with its unique shape and image. The 1987 Jeep Wrangler started a prestigious line of SUVs in fine fashion.

Updated Jul 2, 2014
by null

What's your take on the 1987 Jeep Wrangler?

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normv Trying to put a clutch in, heads of bolts on the starter rounded any ideas on how to get them out?

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normv Trying to put a clutch in my 87 but the heads of the starter bolts are stripped. Any ideas how to get them out?

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Shanon You can weld a bolt on top threw where the threads are and lots of rust breaker

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LMoondog just bought 87 wrangler, 2.5 and after 20 minutes of running, she stalls. then have to wait and wait to start up again. sits and idles fine and revs fine. but 20 minutes of running, she stalls. help. Lee

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shineonme 87 wrangler 4.2 inline6..Shuts down like you have turned key off. Turn key on and it starts right up. Might run for a day might run for 5 min. Help!!!

GuruV1WBH asked a1987 Jeep Wrangler 4WD General
question
about a year ago

Can You Help Identify This Model?

Hello,
I want to identify this model.
Would you be able to help, please?
(I have filled out the form with what I think the car model is, but that's only my assumption.)
I have a limit to one photo, ...

Have A 6 Cylinder 1987 Jeep Wrangler That Is Hard To Start And Stalls Often...

296 viewswith2 answers(last answer 7 years ago)

Have you driven a 1987 Jeep Wrangler?

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User Reviews

Displaying 1 - 10 of 15 1987 Jeep Wrangler reviews.

1987 Jeep WranglerReview

Steve writes:

Appearance:

Performance:

Quality:

Overall:

Perfect High School Car —

Wow. Totally unexpected. That's what I thought when my cousin said that he was going to Switzerland with his family and asked whether or not I would look after his wife's 1987 Jeep. Of course, I said, who would pass up the opportunity for a free car?
The car arrived before I was finished with my 2-week stint at the University of Notre Dame's Intro to Engineering program, but needless to say when I got back I immediately went out for my first drive in the Jeep. Nothing can explain the first time you pilot a convertible, especially a Jeep. I've driven tons of convertibles at Enterprise since then, but I can't get past the feeling of driving a Wrangler - it's truly a unique experience.
Modern NVH engineering must go out the window to appreciate this car. There was only one top - the soft top. It rattled, flapped about, and took eons to put up and take down. But it was the CHARACTER that kept the smile on my face day in and day out, plus you get a badass feeling when you leave the windows off during a rain storm. You're only young once.
The Jeep came with all the right options - leather wheel (rare in a non-Laredo Wrangler), factory A/C (although it didn't work but I didn't mind), wide-tired steelies (which I painted) with an aluminum spare, and the 4.2L straight-six with the 5-speed manual transmission. Fuel economy was, um, predictably bad, especially since the six came with a computer-controlled carburetor (while the 4-cylinder model came with fuel injection, interestingly). The best I got was 15 mpg in the summer, and about 11-12 mpg in the winter - mostly suburban driving.
The driving experience was unique, again filled with a lot of character. The steering wheel wasn't on quite straight, but the handling was predictable, and as long as you didn't try anything stupid, the Jeep was surprisingly nimble. Foul-weather handling is this Jeep's forte, and has few competitors in that realm - I rarely had to use 4WD even on the worst of snowy roads. The best thing is that Low Range coupled with first gear produced a great "Jeep Crawl" that could allow me to navigate down my steep driveway without having to apply the brakes - pretty cool.
I drove this car all throughout my senior year, and even though my cousin's wife offered to give me the car, at $2k/year in insurance, coupled with the addition of a brand-new 2005 Mini Cooper S to the family stable (which bumped my mom's 1998 A4 down to me) forced me to give up my high school ride. It's a shame I never got to turn a wrench on it (it was EXTREMELY reliable) or modify it, but it has moved on to serve another person's needs, just as it had served mine.

I have the 1987 AMC 4.2 I6 Jeep, it has the unfortunate BA/10 Transmission, but it hasnt failed me yet at 132,000 miles, and it has the 231 transfer case, yes its 1987, and has the 231, I said that right, even though that case wasnt introduced untill 1988, I still have it.
I have a K&N intake on it, and have had the clutch replaced at 127,000 miles. This Jeep sat in a barn for 10 years before i pulled it out of retirement. it is now my everyday driver....and occasional off-roader and i love it. It has all the power i could ever want and i can pull anything that i need too. This Jeep has a 4" suspension lift with 31" tires, with that it gets about 15-16 miles to the gallon in town and about 17-19 highway, so not too bad. I love when I put it in 1st and just put that hammer down how that little 4.2 just throws you back in your seat, and you just watch all the other cars behind you crawl past the light, it just makes me feel like I am part of owning something special. It's really a good time when i do that because it is straight piped, no cat, nothing, just 2" pipe out the back. For a 6 cylinder, its pretty loud. One more thing that i love about this Jeep, is that it has the Laredo package, and that black leather interior and chrome LAREDO on the hood will make anyones jaw drop.
I LIVE, I RIDE, I AM, JEEP

3 star rating = ok, not terrible, short wheel base in snow she's a bit squirrely
My 1987 jeep wrangler is:4.2l inline six cylinder ,5 spd all standard, nothing fancy, weber carb. tires: p235 75r15, mpg: 18.5 highway at 55mph
This jeep is fun I have a great time, since it's an 87
maintenance is a must, and you either pay to have it done
or do it yourself. Take care of them and they will take care of you.
my jeep is a great basic jeep unlifted and standard stuff, so I don't rock crawl or mud jump. I can roam logging roads and woods all day long,go camping,etc. Whatever I need or want to do, she does. She's a jeep,and she aint left me stranded. When choosing your jeep make sure you get what your looking for, take your time, and get what your looking for, thats the beauty of jeeps you can make them yours, hook up with a jeep webgroup and local jeepers, we all share the same passion, some of us are the extreme crawlers and mudders, some are like me love the standard jeep, and there's always the in between.but regardless we all like to help our fellow jeepers no matter what we like cause we all share the same
addiction. get your jeep and go out in the woods and what it's all about.
Live the Adventure

Yj Islander —
Performance is moderate but no extraordinary. Brakes work well, but require monthly maintnance.
Handles the way I like, it does have some road feedback in the steering, but not a lot.
I find it hard to bottom out off road.
It's yellow, black and chrome in and out.
32" 11.50 mud trac's, which humm louder than the motor, but the bite everything. Not winter tires.
4.2L fuek injected straight 6cyl, is average on gas, windy days 300km per 40 dollar fill up, or 600 km stop and go city driving. on a full tank.
if you like to feel the road fight back off road it's a 10 for fun factor.

Good Solid Second Vehicle And Now Dedicated Off-road Vehicle. —
1987 Wrangler, NP231, Peugeot 5spd, 258ci, originally had Carter 2bbl. Over 200K miles. Installed Mopar Performance Fuel Injection late 90's. Best money I have spent so far. Increased mileage,drivability,easier starting and great performance off camber as well as inclines. Now 5" spring lift,1" body lift, 35" BFG MT's,SYE,4.56 gears,ARB locker up front and Detroit Locker in the rear. Alloy 30 spline axle shafts front and rear. Used now for trail riding mostly in East Tennessee.

Dude Awesome —
even tho its 20 years old its new cuz it only have 50000 miles on its original engine. its getting a new clutch right now only cuz the hydraulic line blew. the inside is awesome, full black leather seat wise, in the winter only takes about a min to warm up, in the summer only way to go is no doors or roof. handling is amazing! like you can turn on a dime no problem. and the acceleration is the best that iv seen on a jeep.

It's A Jeep. They Aren't Fast On The Highway, But They Are Great Off-road —
It owns the trails, and even beats some built vehicles. If you want a reliable off road vehicle this is it. A jeep is usually willing to go more places than it's owner is willing to drive it. The inline six cylinder doesn't have lots of horsepower at the top end so it is not the best on the highways, but it has loads of torque and loves to crawl up rocks and fly down the less technical trails.

Pros:
Bullet proof engine and drive-train so long as you don't start modifying stuff.

Cons:
A little lacking in power at highway speeds, and not the most fuel efficient.

Jeep Wrangler —
I loved the off road ability if you wantgo muddin crawl on rocks ro cruise the river you cant beat a JEEP. and when its time to hit the strip you will get all the attention you need and then some even better if you leave the mud on
a little under powerd and the carb will get loose and start a fire but all around the most fun ive had in a car in a long time

Buy One, Keep The Body And Frame And Replace Everything Else And Rockcrawl The Crap Out Of It —
this vehicle is pretty much useless stock. approach and departure angles are neglegible, fuel milage is a joke, and interior room is non existent.......but on a good note if you gut it and put a ford 302, c6,np208,3\4 ton dana axles and well you get the picture, its an extremely fun and capable vehicle and really pisses off prius owners

I Love My Hobby Vehicle And Drive It As Much As Possible —
I love that it's a Jeep... My second
Wrangler... my first was a 94. Lot's of repairs
since I bought it about a year ago...
everything from fuel pump to engine mounts,
transmission, throttle motor ...too many to
list and more still needed... definitely worth
it... The freedom of a wrangler is priceless

Reviews From Other Years

ReviewBy GuruMML4Z

Love the vehicle...especially the Jeep Wrangler rubicon 2-door with a 6-speed manual. Tremendous off road vehicle thats a blast to drive.
However, Jeep needs to do something about their dealer...
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ReviewBy Guru6SVG5

the jeep was a 2015 but only had 21,700 miles, still looked and smelled new. the vehicle had quiet a few after market products which made it more valuable. I paid 38979.00 which I thought was good de...
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ReviewBy Guru2K2B1

It could use some special modifications, like a new front grill, 2.5 lift and 35 size tires as well as audio system.
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ReviewBy GuruRKRHG

This Jeep had been badly wrecked and was being represented as having had a minor accident.
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Great Fun CarBy Joellepat

Love the car, glad I had the opportunity to drive one.
Just a real feel good car :-)
Up high and easy to drive, it can snow, rain, sun shine, the car is ready and so the driver.
The top can be down in...
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